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Lebanese protesters back on Beirut streets after police crackdown Lebanon protests roll into second day amid police crackdown
(about 4 hours later)
Party offices of former PM and foreign minister set on fire after violent clashes on Saturday Security forces fire tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons in the violent clashes
Thousands of Lebanese protesters defiantly returned on Sunday to rally outside parliament in the capital, Beirut, hours after security forces chased them out, using teargas and rubber bullets and injuring dozens. Lebanese security forces fired teargas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse hundreds of protesters for a second straight day, ending what started as a peaceful rally in defiance of the toughest crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in two months.
On Saturday night into Sunday there was one of the most violent crackdowns on protesters since nationwide anti-government demonstrations began two months ago, leading to the resignation of prime minister Saad Hariri on 29 October. The violence on Sunday comes on the eve of a meeting between the president and parliamentary blocs in which Saad Hariri, who resigned as prime minister on 29 October, is widely expected to be renamed to the post.
Attackers in northern Lebanon also set fire to the offices of two major political parties, the state-run National News Agency said. Hariri stood down during nationwide protests that have accused the entire political elite of corruption and mismanagement amid Lebanon’s worst economic downturn in decades. The protesters say they won’t accept Hariri as prime minister, demanding an independent head of government not affiliated with existing parties.
The protesters who showed up in Beirut on Sunday chanted against the security crackdown and called for an independent new head of government unaffiliated with established political parties. The crowd, many raising Lebanese flags, chanted: “We won’t leave. We won’t leave. Just arrest all the protesters!” After weeks of bickering, the political parties failed to put forward independent names, most of them insisting on keeping their stake in government.
Others raised posters saying the teargas won’t keep them away. “We are crying already,” said one, in a jab at the deep economic crisis the Lebanese people are facing. The streets leading to parliament were filled with men, women and even children. Some huddled in smaller groups while others were lifted on to people’s shoulders as they chanted into megaphones. The protests on Sunday were largely peaceful, but some demonstrators lobbed water bottles and firecrackers at security forces guarding parliament. After a couple of hours, security forces chased the the protesters away, using batons and teargas to disperse the crowd.
In the town of Kharibet al-Jindi, an office of the party of the former prime minister Saad Hariri was torched and its windows were broken. Hundreds remained as division surfaced among the protesters. Some promoted confrontation with security forces to express anger at the crackdown and the government’s business as usual approach.
In a separate attack in the town of Jedidat al-Juma, assailants stormed an office of the largest party in parliament, affiliated with President Michel Aoun and headed by the foreign minister, Gebran Bassil. The party said the contents of the office had been smashed and burned. “We have to reclaim our country from this occupation,” one angry protester told LBC TV, referring to what he called a corrupt government in place for decades. Another told Al-Jadeed that on Sunday the protest was a reaction to an unjust crackdown the day before.
Hours earlier in Beirut, security forces had carried out the most violent crackdown on protesters since nationwide demonstrations began two months ago. The large crowd that gathered peacefully earlier Sunday largely dispersed by evening. But many protesters came prepared with helmets and teargas, and they used plant pots and bins to throw up a barricade in the street.
The security forces fired rubber bullets and teargas and used water cannon throughout the night to disperse protesters in the city centre and around parliament. Security forces chased protesters in central Beirut, firing teargas and rubber bullets. Some protesters hid in the commercial area surrounding the parliament and others in masks pelted officers with stones. Several people were injured from stone throwing, including a news photographer.
The overnight confrontations left more than 130 people injured, according to the Red Cross and the Lebanese civil defence. Demonstrators had chanted against the security crackdown and called for an independent new head of government unaffiliated with established political parties.The crowd waved Lebanese flags. One raised a poster saying the teargas won’t keep them away. We are crying already, it added, in a jab at the deep economic crisis Lebanese are facing. The streets leading to parliament were filled with men, women and even children. Some huddled in smaller groups while others were lifted on shoulders chanting in megaphones.
The interior minister, Raya Haffar al-Hassan, ordered an investigation into the clashes, which she said had injured both protesters and security forces. The demonstrators were clear they wouldn’t accept Hariri’s return.
She blamed what she called “infiltrators” for instigating the violence and called on the demonstrators to be wary of those who sought to exploit their protests for political reasons. “I came back today to pressure the parliament to make the right choice tomorrow and choose a prime minister from outside the political parties. If they don’t choose someone acceptable, we will be back to the streets again and again,” said Chakib Abillamah, a protester and businessman who was demonstrating Saturday when violence broke out.
Lebanon is facing one of its worst economic crises in decades, and the protesters accuse the political class that has ruled for three decades of mismanagement and corruption. The overnight confrontations in Beirut left more than 130 people injured, according to the Red Cross and the Lebanese Civil Defense. The Red Cross said none of the injured were in serious condition and most of them were treated on the spot.
The nationwide protests began on 17 October, and the government headed by Hariri resigned two weeks later. Political parties have since been bickering over the shape and form of the new cabinet. Protesters want a technocratic government that is not affiliated with established political parties. Attackers in northern Lebanon also set fire to the offices of two major political parties early Sunday, the state-run National News Agency said.
Aoun is due to hold talks with all the parliamentary blocs to name a new prime minister on Monday. After weeks of back and forth, Hariri has emerged as the likely candidate for the job.